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PHILIP LANGDON, 

Born in Yorkshire. Eng. 
Was a }vlariner and settled 
in Boston, Mass., in 1640. 

Philip had Seven Children. 
Paul was the Fifth Son. 



PAUL, 

Born, Sept. 12, 1693. 

Married, Mrs. Mary H. 
Stacy, Salem, Mass., 
Ang. 18, 1 7 18. Moved 
to Wilbraham. 1742. 

Died, Dec. 3. 1761. 



Mary, 

Born, Augnst 20, 171 

Lewis, 

Born, May 16, 1721. 

Hannah, 

Born, Feb. 22, 1723. 

JOHN, 

Born. Jnix' 21, 1728. 

Married, Dec. 29, 
Fnnice Torrey 
Connecticut. S 
in Wil!)raham. 
Died, Oct. 10, \i 

Paul, 

Born, Dec. t(i. 1725. 

Elizabeth, 

Born, July i, 1730. 

Anna, 

Born. Sept. 21. 1732. 




, 



John Wilson, 

Born, ^larch ii. 1759. 
^Married Lucv A-^lilev. 



Lrcv. b. May 30. 17S3. ;;/. Charles Marsh. 
John. /'. Oct. 13. 1784. ;;;. Dehlah Cuhoin. 
I'lavi.v, /'. April, 1786. in. Francis A. Harris. 
Celia, /'. March 9. 17SS. ;;/, Stephen Weston. 

Polly, /'. . 178^. /;;. John \V. Bradley. 

Hannah, />. ^larch 9. 1792, ;;;. James H. Speer. 
Olive, /'. April 13. 1794. in. Joseph A. Reeder. 
Jessie Lee, /'. May 8. 1797. in. Hannah Lewis. 
Willl\m F.. /'. Vn'h. 3. 1799. '«• Mary Arnold. 
Charles, b. July 6. 1801. ;;;. Sarah (ireen. 
Elizabeth B.. /'. Feh. i.i8o(). ;;;. David Price. 

f Richard C. b. Dec. 5. 1789. in. Aharella Mitchell. 

JAMES, I JAMES D., />.. June 13. 179J. in. Sarah Phelps. 

Born March 27. 1762. -| Elam Potter, /'. Aprd 17. 17(14. '"• Ann Cromwell. 

Married Esther Stelihins. j Lorenha, b. ^March Ji. 1795. '"• Lemuel Snow. 

I Joanna, b. May i. 1796. in. Minervus Swift. 

( JosiAH FT.. /'. h>b. 18. 1802. (/. March 29. 1846. 
I Seth FIall, /'. April 8. 1804. d. Oct. 27. 1822. 
.; Sarah Eliza, /). July 22. i8o6. in. Calvin Stehbins. 

John W'n.sox, /'. June 14. 1808. ;/;. Emily .\. Stebhins 
1 M.\RY Ann, /'. August 17. 1813. /;/. J. Wesley Bliss. 



Josiah, 

Bom. Jan. 13. 1765. 
Married Sallv Flail. 



Joann.a, 



Born. June 21. 1767. 



( Oliver L., /'. Aug. 20. 1802. in. Agnes H. Sayle. 
•! Solomon L., /'. Nov. 14, 181 1. in. Leanna Hall. 



ALarried Preserved Leon.ard. | Joann.v L.. ;;/. V. V. Baldwin. 



v^ 



(Oliver, 

Born. Oct. 9. 1769. 

1st mar. Nancy Brown. 

2d mar. Cath. \\'. Bassett. 



FUNICE, 

Born, March 7. 1772. 
^Married. Asa ]\lerritt. 

Solomon, 

Born. July \g. 1777. 
Married. Marv Butler. 



Nancy, b. Dec. 28. 1801). </. h\'b. 13. 1810. 
Nancy B.. b. Oct. 27. 1810. ;;/. b'dwin Matto^m. 
SoLO^iroN, /'. April 27. 181^. ;;;. Martha Perin. 
]\Iary B.. /'. August II. 1814. ;;;. Robert \\'. Raync 
Oliver ]M., b. Feb. 2. 1817. </. June 15. 1878. 
< Caroline, /'. Sept. (>. 1818. ;;;. John Stanley. 
Ruth, /;. Nov. 13. 1820. d. March 3. 1821. 
Ruth. /'. I'eb. 2. 1822. ;;;. John W. Punshon. 
Elisha Bassett. /'. Feb. 24. 1827. d. May 30. 1867. 
Eunice M.. b. Nov. 2^,. 1825. d. Sept. 19. 1901. 
Catherine V... b. Nov. 13. 1828. d. April 17. 1900. 

j Eunice, h. Nov. 14. 1812. ;//. John Hunter. 

Harmony B., b. Dec. i(). 1815. ;;;. Perc. Davison. 



r He was an active Methodist miui■^u•r. 
•{ 8. i8i9. leaving no children. 



ard died Oct. 

--. ("1, 1 o I V f. n. .1 \ 1 1 li^ I IV ' I. 1 1 I n 1 1 V 1 L . Ills \\ It 10 \\ 

i married TrunKin I'lishop. alsd a minister. 



.\rtemas, 

Born May 25; died October 2, 1760. 



1 



James Harvey, b. Nov. 2t,. 1819; (/. Juiif 

-27, 1842. 
Sarah, h. Oct. i. 1821 ; d. Dec. 15, 1825. 



Cynthia, b. Aug. 23. 1823; d. Jan. 9. i86rj 
III. Nov. II, 1841 , Dk. Henry E. ]\I<)R 
RILL, who d. March b. 1874. , 



V H.\RKiET, /'. July 25. 1825; III. Rev. Ch^ 
H. Williams, August 26. 1852. M 
WilHams died. March 22. 1854. 



JAMES DAVENPORT LANGDON, 

Born. June 13. 1792; died. April 13. 
1887; married. Dec. 2^. 1818, to 
Sarah Phelps, lorn, AIa.v i, i797; died. 
Sept. II, 1863. 



Cyrus Stebbins, b. Jan. 5. 1828; (/. Feb. 
1864. 

John Phelps, b. Dec. 8. 1829; d. No\ . n 
1897: III. (i) Mary Williams. ?^Ia.\ 2, 
1855. who d. Sept. 22. i860; ;;;. ( 2j 
Keturah Nash, April 3. 1861. 



i 



^ Elam Chester, b. March 31. 1832. in 

Cynthia Allen, April 12. 1859. who 
Dec. 18. 1868: III. (2) Martha Nasi 
Dec. 29, 1869. 



Edwin Mattoon, b. Dec. 20. 1834: d. Jul 
26. 1847. 



Henry Archer, b. May 28. 1839; d. Ma 
13, 1876; III. (i) Emeline Corbly, Jai 
15. 1867; who (/. July 8. 1874; ;;(. (2 
Sydnis Edwards, Dec. i. 1875. 



Ienry E. ]\Iorrill. Jr., /'. ^lay 24, 1S44; 

(/. ]\Jay 24. 1844. 
lnxie Elizabeth, b. Feb. 13. 1856: ;.v. y 

June 9. 1880. Dr. Huc.h M. Smith, 

who (/. Aug. 30. 1857. 

.H.XRLES L.\NGiK)N. /'. Juiie 2g. 1853 ; in. r 

AJa.v 5. 1880. Ida Stoner, who d. :\Iarch ■ I-xizabeth Laxcdox, /'. April lO. 1886. 

1" 6. 1894. 

lARAH, /'. Sept. 2. 1857; (/. Sept. 2/. 1857 

f Eugene Duxgan, b. Jan. 13. 1891. 

:dwin IMorrill, /'. Aug. 13. 18G0; /;;. June j Paul Laxgddx, b. April 16. 1894. 

27, 1889. ]Marv Idella Dungan. 'j Florence Porterfield, b. Sept. 5. 1896. 

I Martha Lucile, b. Alarch 20. iQoi. 

I AIorris Holliii.w, b. Sept. 10, 1895. 
iEXRV Archer, b. Dec. 4. 1S64: ni. Xov. 24, I Lvxgdon Thomas, b. Julv 10. i8>S. 
1837. Elizabeth Lorena Thomas. i ^^^^^^^^^ j^^^^^. ;,^ j^^^.^, ^,^ j^^^j 



.\MES \\'iLi.i.\.Ms, /'. AJarch 29. 1S57; ;/;. ) Alice D.wenport, /'. Dec. 16. 1882. 
Oct. 15, 1879. LvDE L. Durham. ' John Bruce, b. March 8, 18S6. 



lliNXiE Belle, b. Jure 25. iSfio; d. April 
7. 1884. 

..EOXORA Sxow. /'. Aug. 3. i8f:;2: d. IMarch 
12. 1906; ;;;. April 16. 1891. Erxest E. | 
Baker. 

\kcher Allex, /'. July 18, 1S71 ; d. Jan. 

21, 1872. 
■iARRiET X.\SH, /'. April 23. 1873. < 



Allen Langiiox. b. Feb. 21. 1893. 
Louise, /'. Aug. J^. 1856. 
Ernestixe Leox AKii. b: Jan. 6, 1902; d. 
Sept. 3, 1904. 



[Chester Stebkins, b. Sept. 5. 1867; (/. July 

20, 1 868. 
Ilara. b. May 5. i8')0: </. Dec. 7. 1874. 
\xxiE Dawsox, b. Sept. 9. 187c; (/. Oct. 

20. 1874. 
rnoMAS McDonald, /'. June 22. 1874: </. 

Oct. 4. 1874. 
ViLLiAM Carson, b. June 22. 1S74: ;;;. Feb. \ Mexrv TTarlan, />. \ov. 5. 1896. 

6. 1896, Lillian :\L\y Wilkixs. ' Svunie Iu.izaeeth, b. Aug. 14. 1901. 



g'trlibiuii O^niralnijij 

Rowland "Stebbing" was horn near Cani1)ridge. in luigland. in 
1594. and Sarah, liis wife, in 1591. They came to 
Roxbur_v, Mass., in 1634. with four children: 
Thomas, born in 1620; Sarah, in 1623; John, in 
1626; Elizabeth, in 1628. 

Thomas married Hannah Wright in November. 1645, and had 
seven children: Samuel, Thomas, Joseph, Sarah, 
Edward, Benjamin and Hannah, 

Samuel, born September 19, 1646, married Joanna Lamb, July 
22, 1679, and had several children. 

Samuel, their second son. born May 13. 1683. married Hannah 
Hitchcock, January 30. 1707, and had eleven chil- 
dren. 

Moses, their fifth son. liorn December 4. 1718, married Dorcas 
Hale, June 2"], 1749. and had ten children. 

Esther, their third child, born January 26, 1755. died August 26. 
1827, married James Langdon, son of John and 
Eunice Langdon. 

Eunice Torrey, wife of John Langdon, born July 2. 1731, was 

the daughter of 
John Torrey, born April 6. 1692; died. 1740 or 1741. who was 

the son of 
JosiAH Torrey, born aliout 1645; died. October 30. 1732. who was 

the son of 
Capt, Wm. Torrey, born. 160S; died. June 10, 1690, who was 

the son of 
Phillip Torrey, died. June. 1621. who was the son of 
William Torrey, birth and death unknown, who was the son of 
Phillip Torrey, birth and death unknown, who was the son of 
William Torrey, who died. June. 1557. and T'homasyne, his wife, 
Capt. Wm. Torrey. who was born in Combe St. Nicholas. Som- 
ersetshire, England, was a citizen of Weymouth. 
Mass., and died at Weymouth. June 10, 1690. His 
services were notable in the American Colonial Wars. 

Pltrlps (i»ruralngg 

Sarah Phelps, wife of J.\mes D. L.\ngdon, was the daughter of 
Ebenezer Phelps, born at Salem. Mass.. Novem1)er 7. 1768: 

died, October 17. 1831. and 
Sarah P,rown Phelps, 1x)rn at Salem, ALass.. March 17. 17O9; 

died. February 26, 1847, 
Sarah Brown, wife of 1m!enezer Phelps, was the daughter of 
Benjamin Brown, liorn .\pril 15. 1733. in Salem. Mass.; died. 

April 24, 1785. and 
Hannah Archer Brown, liorn September 16, 1730. in Salem, 

Mass. ; died. March 5. 1824. 



PRINTED FOR PRIVATE DISTRIBUTION 

DECEMBER 20TH, 1Q06 

TO COMMEMORATE THE ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY 

OF THE 
ARRIVAL OVERLAND FROM VERSHIRE, VERMONT 

OF THE 

LANGDON FAMILY 

AT 
COLUMBIA, AFTERWARD CINCINNATI, OHIO 

Edited and published by 
HARRIET NASH LANGDON AND ANNIE MORRILL SMITH 
78 ORANGE STREET. BROOKLYN 
NEW YORK 






SjL^<^u^-i-- 



Kxxotl}n 

d^ur Jatlirr 
AmiiHrmnttB 






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JJ'c Iiaz'c ha J much pleasure duvii};:^ flic f^ast four or 
iiTc years in carrying:; on a correspondence rehUiui::; to 
the circunistaru-es and ci'cnfs of our childhood. It has 
been zeith the hope that our children zodl be interested in 
these reininiscences that a compilation of our letters has 
been made and printed. 

Of our ozen family zee are the o)dy remaini)!-^ reprc- 
sentatiz'cs to form a link zeitJi the [:_enerations i:;one. 

To tliose zelio care to listen to a tale of former days 
zee dedicate these pages. 




ci^>*\y 



Cyhi^ Ce-'Y^ -^^^^"^-^ 



ipCcn,-^^ 



Lixwcoi). Cincinnati, Ohio, 

December. iqo6. 



(iur iFamtlii 

The genealogical records of the Langdons in America 
disclose as the progenitor of nur line TMiilip Langdon, a 
mariner who, in company with tw'O brothers, came to 
this country from Yorkshire, England, in the year sixteen 
hundred and forty. Our ancestor remained in Boston 
while one brother made his home in New Hampshire, 
and the other in \'irginia. The New Hampshire Langdon 
had several descendants of note. John Langdon, a sen- 
ator for many terms, distinguished as having been the 
presiding officer of the first senate of the United States, 
was of the New Hampshire family, as was also Sannicl 
Langdon, president at one time of the Harvard College. 

The fifth son and seventh child of Philip Langdon, 
by name Paul, born in i^x)^, was the American head of 
our family. Lieutenant Paul Langdon was, we are told, 
a man of great energy. This characteristic may be indi- 
cated by the fact that he followed several business occu- 
pations. He was by trade a carpenter, a mill w'right and 
a farmer. 

An account-book belonging to Paul Langdon, is still 
preserved by some of our kinsfolk in the b^ast. We are 
able to quote an entry from this book which reveals not 
only the orderliness and thrift of our great-great-grand- 
father, but also the ])eculiarities of spelling and book- 
keeping common in the eighteenth century. "1745. W hat 
wheat has been thrached and vt)used and sold this being a 



memorandum of Wheat Reased in ye year 1745 of my 
nue field (in Wilbraham) 102 >^ bushels." 

Paul Langdon's Bible contains these verses. — 

" Paul Langdon is my name 
England is my nation. 
Salem is my a1)iding-place, 
And Christ is my salvation." 

Besides the Bible and the account-book there is in 
existence a letter writen by Paul Langdon addressed to 
his wife "Mrs. Mary Langdon, Liveing in Salem." We 
are able to give an exact copy of this ancient letter. 

"Dorchester, September ye 26, 1721. 
mv dere and Loveing Weife these fue Leins Come with 
mv kind Love to you & yours hopeing that these fue 
Lins will find you all in good helth as I am at this Preas- 
cnt writeing I thanke all mity God for It I am in helth 
In mv liody but T have Cot my Lege but not vary bad but 
I Cot a vean and I Cot it a thursday Larst and I worked 
after I Cot it a thursday and a friday and a friday nite 
about nine of ye Cloke as nere as I Can Geus It begane 
to blede and it bled all nite and a satterday til about 3 a 
Cloke in ve afternune before we could stope it but It is 
Stoped now and I am In a likle waye to be well agane. 

So No more At Present but my harts desire and 
Praer to God is that god of his infenite grease and mercy 
would be plesed to give ous bouth feath in ye Lorde 
Jesus and that feath may worke by Love and so we may 
have a good hope thrue Grease that when time in this 
world Shall Be no Longer that the greate god may be the 
Strength of oner harts and portion of ouer Sols for Ever. 

for I have thought of the diiTecolty of [liveing] in 

8 



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THE PAUL LANGDON LETTER. 



the world I have ben [in much J discored but when [or 
then?] I have thought of ye Love of Criste which paseth 
knoleg how he [died] for pore Siners and when he was 
here on earth he had no whear to Lay his hed 

So no more at present but I dow rcmane your Love- 
ing husband tel death Paul Langdon." 

This letter is mounted on a page of "The Boston 
Gazette and Country Journal, containing the freshest 
Advices Foreign and Domestic," dated Monday, October 
3< 1757- Both paper and letter are worn and brown 
from age and handling. 

Lieutenant Paul Langdon's son John was in active 
service in the French and Indian Wars and during the 
Revolutionary War. In records preserved at Springfield, 
Mass., there is found "A List of 151 men X'oluntanly 
Inlisted into his Majesty's Service ( 1755) for reinforcing 
the Army for Crown Point out of ye Southern Regiment 
in the County of Hampshire" for three months "Benj. 
Day Capt." in which among the names of Wilbraham 
men appears the name of John Langdon. In a company 
of which Luke Hitchcock was Captain, we find Paul 
Langdon (son of Lieut. Paul, bother of John) sergeant. 
They were out eight UKjuths from April 3, 1755, to Janu- 
^^y 3- 1756, and were in the battle of Lake George, with 
Baron Dieskau. It is on account of the gallant record 
of John Langdon that his descendents are privileged to 
enroll themselves in the various Societies of the Revolu- 
tion. There are several quaint letters of John Langdon, 
written from camp to his wife at home during the year 
preceding that of the Declaration of Independence, which 
make interesting reading. We shall gi'^'f one letter entire. 

10 



"Roxburx- Camp July }'e 24th 1775 
Dear wife these Comes with mv tender affection to you 
hoping they will find you all well Through the great 
goodness of almighty (lod 1 am in a good Steat of heltli 
for which 1 desier to be thank*'"" their was a man Shot 
through the breast with a musket ball and Expierd that 
night it was Joseph wood that livd with mr. Ilrown 
last summer he was shot last thursday night, last thurs- 
dav a Party of our n.ien with the wdiale Iioats went to the 
light house and burnt it tuck five prisenors one boat and 
burnt another tuck two Swevels guns they broke of the 
lamps two barrels of power two of o} 1 without the loss 
of a man their is a great deal (if news in the Camp but I 
cant write more I see Majr I'.liss he told me >'ou ware 
well 

I should be glad to have a pair of wdiite linnen 
breaches niv old Sockens are worn out almost I would 
have VdU bier Som help to do your haying and harvest 
and do as well as you can and the Lord bless you all 

my love to mv dear Children John & James be good 
boys andjje kind to your mother no more but I remain 
vour most affectionate Husband John Langdon 

mv dutv to my hon'' mother .S: all friends in beast." 

Of John Langdon's children we have fuller knowl- 
edge than of the preceding generations. About the year 
seventeen hundred and eighty-eight several of John 
Langdon's sons left Massachusetts, their birthplace, to go 
north, founding a new home in the town of X'ershire in 
X'ermont. Tames, the third son of John Langdon. married 
Esther Stebbins in Wilbraham, .M:issachusetts, and these 
two. our grandparents, began their life together in the 

11 



little settlement in X'erniont in the year above mentioned. 
James Lang-don died in eighteen hundred and four, leav- 
ins" his widow with a familv of three sons and two 
daughters. Two years later a small company of Vershire 
families was forn:ed to go West to the new State of Ohio. 
In it were the families of John. Solomon and Oliver 
Langdon and James's widow. 

It is well for us to imagine the fortitude and resolu- 
tion of our grandmother in undertaking- this hazard of 
fortunes. The journey westward through the wilderness 
was tedious and slow. They camped out at night as best 
they could, sometimes stopping- at an occasional tavern 
or farm-house. These pioneer travelers reached the Ohio 
River at Wellsville, about ten weeks after their departure 
from X'ermont. At this point they embarked on flat- 
boats, taking their wagons aboard and sending- their 
liorses by land down the river banks. Two da\s l)efore 
Christmas, in the year eighteen hundred and six, the 
adventurers landed their floating barks at Columbia^ 
several miles east of the small settlement which was get 
ting to be known as the town of Cincinnati. Our grand- 
mother with her family of five young children found a 
home in part of Oliver Spencer's* house near the tanyard. 
Here she remained until the following spring wdicn a 
purchase of land was made and a cabin was built for the 
f?milv to live in. 



*The Spencers were a good family, among the first of the 
early settlers in Cincinnati. In Peter Parley's look for children 
there used to be an account of the capture of one of the Spencers 
by the Indians. The unfortunate man bound to a tree, was about 
to be shot by the Indians with their bows and arrows, when a 
rescue-party arrived upon the scene just in time to save the 
ciptive's life. 

12 



1 "Jf^J, 




THE ProNEERS OX THETR WAV. 



The three brothers, John, Oliver and Solomon Lan;.:- 
don, together bought a large tract of land, nearly three 
hundred acres in extent 1} ing along the Little Miami 
River between Duck Creek and Red Bank. This land 
was a part of the Miami Purchase, as it was named in 
those days, and was originally the property of Benjamin 
Stites. Oliver Langdon was the guardian of his brother 
James's children, and exercised a kindly care over the 
affairs of his sister-in-law and her family. 

Richard, the oldest son, who was a lad of seventeen 
at the time of this emigration to Ohio, did not care to 
become a farmer, and after working a year or two on 
the farm, went to the city and entered an academy. From 
school he went into the office of the ''Liberty Hall," later 
the "Cincinnati Gazette," as an apprentice in the printing 
business. Richard Langdon was publisher of the "Louis- 
iana Gazette" in New Orleans during the Mexican War, 
and later was editor at Natchez of the "Mississippian," 
the ofificial organ of the State. Subsequently returning 
north he was editor and publisher of several papers, the 
last being the "Licking Valley Register," in Covington, 
Kentucky. In an obituary notice recounting the events 
of his life and his personal characteristics, we read that 
"charity and hospitality were his most striking virtues, and 
that as a politician he was truthful and patriotic." 

Elam Potter Langdon, the youngest son, also left 
the farm at an early age and engaged in business success- 
fully in Cincinnati, where he became a prominent figure 
in business centers, in the post office, in Masonic circles, 
and in the educational institutions of the embryo cit\. 
He was for many years one of the trustees of the old 
Woodward College and a member also of the Board oi 

14 



Education of the Common Schools of the city. In tlie 
latter he served as president for four years (1838-1842). 
In a h.istory of the schools of Cincinnati we find the fol- 
lowing note. "In his report, June, 1839. Elam P. Lang- 
don, president of the Board, writes : 'There is a library 
containing' a greater or less number of books in every 
school district. In some of the districts the citizens have 
contributed for this purpose from $30 to $100.' " It is 
stated in this historical sketch that '"in 1825-6-7. and 
loneer. E. P. Lano-don maintained a free reading room on 
Third street, in the rear of the post office; newspapers, 
magazines, etc., were kept on file." 

A paragraph relating to this reading room is to be 
found in a chapter upon Libraries in a certain valuable 
historv of Cincinnati. "The Cincinnati Reading room 
was founded in 1818, by Elam 1'. Langdon. then assistant 
postmaster. The Gazetteer of the next year, the first 
published in the city, gives it this notice : 'The room is 
amplv furnished with the most respectable news and liter- 
ary journals in the country : also with maps, European 
gazettes, etc. etc. It is conducted on a liberal plan and is 
a convenient and pleasant resort for the citizens and 
strangers who are desirous of noting the passing tidings 
of the times." It was kept in the rear of the postoffice 
on Third street and was successfully maintained for a 
numl)er of years. It is noticed as 'this valuable establish- 
ment" in Drake & Mansfield's Cincinnati, in 1826. It 
was furnished with many leading news jcnirnals and 
maeazines of the countrv. including the Xorth American 
Review, The Museum, The Cnited States Literary Ga- 
zette, and the Portfolio, and also the Edinburgh Review." 

Elam P. Langdon was assistant postmaster during 





* 


' mm. 


♦ 




;/■ 


M4i 


!?>■ 



ELAM POTTER LANOnON. 

most of the Rev. Wm. Rnrke's administration, * (which 
be.q-an in 1815, and lasted till 1841) and continued in the 
office throug'h the terms of Major Wm. Oliver and Gen. 
W. H. H. Taylor, Mr. Burke's successors. The office 
kept by Mr. Burke was on West Third street between 
Main and Walnut. 

The residence of Elam P. Langdon was on Sixth 
street between Main and Sycamore, where his family of 
seven children were born, only one of whom died in in- 



*It is interesting to note that during the year 1826. the re- 
ceipts for postage on 3.750 letters received and deliyered amounted 
to $8,162.00. Twenty mails per week were then despatched, ten 
of which were carried hy stage, the remainder on horsehack. 
The number of mails kept steadily increasing. In 1840 it is 
stated that sixty mails a week were received. 



16 




MRS. ELAM POTTER LANGDON. 



fancy, all the rest living to matnrity and leaving descend- 
ants, some to carry on the family name. His wife was 
Ann Cromwell, a native of Baltimore, Maryland. 

In a collection of family letters which have been 
preserved and have fallen into our hands in recent year's, 
are several written to his brother Richard by Elam P. 
Langdon. We shall quote a few sentences to indicate 
further his excellent characteristics. 

"I am always pleased to hear from you and I was 
trulv fjlad to find in vour letter that vou have not broken 
through those moral restraints that seem so fully to har- 
monize with nature and providence, and which certainly 
accord with rccison and experience and are productive 
of the greatest possible good to man — the whole society 
of man — in every stage of his existence from the cradle 

17 



to the grave. These facts — the free agency of man, his ac- 
coimtabiHty, the divine revelation of God to man througli 
the Scriptures and the continual exercise and operation of 
his spirit upon our hearts with his unbounded and unceas- 
ing- love towards his children — should be accredited for 
their truth and happy tendencies and not because they 
were told us by our parents and grandparents. The 
great cause of infidelity is owing to the absurdities 
preached and practiced by professing Christians. There 
is now an universal excitement in the Christian world — 
not as formerly where one sect or denomination was 
arrayed against another, but those of the same church or 
society are rising up against each other. This state of 
affairs is not pleasant to a looker-on like myself and 
must be much more unpleasant to those who are zealous 
or interested in keeping things as they are. But still I 
think good will grow out of it. Men will reflect and 
reason for themselves. It is very unwise and impolitic to 
trv to weaken those restraining influences that make us 
good members of society. And I am sure there is nothing 
in the whole Christian system that is calculated to make 
us bad or unhappy, but on the contrary it comes to us 
fraught with the choicest and best of blessings." 

The two sisters, Joanna and Lorenda, married at an 
early age and the home place was kept by the second son, 
our father, James Davenport Langdon, with whom his 
mother lived until her death. In a letter dated October 
29, 1 819, written by Elam to his brother Richard Lang- 
don, we find this interesting paragraph relating to the 
family life of that time. 

"You ask what Br. James is about — I will inform 
you : Since our settlement last winter Uncle Oliver and 

18 



m 






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ilillJTjW, -^ 



» "..l'~M.\ ^ *^« ■ N'- ^T' *. *»»lo. 



W llt«0. > 



.... ■^: 



M»uo*ir*'iaij!*.'" 



f .h.iilrTi-'ltl R_« 



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pa--. 



MiiiirilTIMH. 'i ? 



A CINCINNATI NEWSPAPER OF THE EART.V THIRTIES. 



Br. James have continued to do business together as usual 
and I beHeve the understanding is that after Uncle 
Oliver's house is completed, James is to build his, as they 
were not in possession of p07i'cr sufficient to carry on 
both at once. They live in the utmost harmony. Br. 
Swift and sister Joanna live in a room partitioned ofT the 
further end of the Reading Room. (The Reading Room 
on Third street in the city maintained by Elam P. Lang- 
don.) They live comfortably and happy. So do Br. 
James and his wife, and Br. Snow and sister Lorenda. 
Such domestic happiness is the greatest blessing that 
Earth can afford. I am glad that you do not neglect our 
ever to be res])ected Mother. As her sons and daughters 
are absent and married, she no doubt has some lonesome 
hours. Let us show her that she is not forgotten or neg- 
lected but occupies the warmest affections of our hearts.' 

It is remembered that our mother said, "The Lang- 
don brothers were called fine-looking men but not hand- 
some." Our father was tall and well proportioned, digni- 
fied and of commanding presence. 

Our grandmother was an exceedingly energetic 
woman. The family traditions all point to the fact that 
she was a remarkably strong character. She rose early 
and worked through the long hours of the day. Her loom 
might have been heard late in the night. One custom of 
hers was so peculiar as to be somewhat flistinctive in those 
davs of strenuous living — she was accustomed always to 
allow herself the indulgence of a short nap in 
the middle of the day. This lost hour was atoned 
for by her absorption in the task of the evening. 
Our own mother in later days shortly before Grand- 
mother's death, would often say to Father, "you would 

20 



better speak to your mother. It is time she was in l)ed." 
In appearance Grandmother was tall and slender, and had 
light hair and blue eyes. In the neighborhood she was 
known as "Aunt Esther" (Aunt "Easter" it was then 
pronounced.) Iler practical Christianity was demon- 
strated in deeds of kindness to her neighbors. It is said 
that she knew the condition of the families of the poor for 
miles around her home. When weaving she often added 
a little more to the warp and woof for a garment to be 
given to some poor woman or child. After Grandfather's 
death she conducted family worship herself. When con- 
versing with leather at one time on the subject of prayer 
she said. "It is better to have the form of prayer than 
nothing at all." Domestic and charitable duties never 
kept Grandmcth.er from attendance at "meeting." She 
often rode horseback to a church service miles away. 
Her piety was respected by all, and her death was greatly 
mourned. 

Our father by patient tlirift whicli seems wonderful 
to contemplate, was able in his _\-(_)ung manhood to buy 
from his uncle the tract of land wdiich is our family inher- 
itance today. 

blather's marriage occurred in the \ear 1818. 
Mother was of New England l)irth. Her maternal grand- 
father, Benjamin llrown, lived in Salem, Mass.. was 
in the battle of Bunker Hill, and was also an officer in 
the Revolutionary War. (We have as a keepsake a little 
glass tumbler that he obtained while in the war, that at 
one time belonged to a r>ritish officer. This keei)sake 
was a u'ift to us bv his daughter, our grandmother). 
Mother was born in Hollowell, Maine, though brought 
up in Fairfield, Maine, the family removing to that place 

21 



when she was a year old. She was born ?\Iay ist, 1797. 
and emigrated with her parents, Ebenczer and Sarah 
Phelps, to Hamilton County, Ohio, in the year 1S17, and 
settled near Columbia. 

There were six sons and three daughters born to 
make up our family circle. Little Sarah, the eldest 
daughter, died in infancy. James, the eldest son, died 
in earlv manhood when but a few months more than 
22 years of age. He lived a short but useful life with a 
bright endino-. When a child he was called "little James" 
because he bore Father's name. He went to our country 
school until he became sufficiently advanced to enter an 
ac'idemv for lioys in Cincinnati. He stayed in the home 
of our Uncle Elam in the city and went to school with 
some of our cousins. Our brothers Jamcs and John re- 
sembled each other in a])pearance and in a certain char- 
acteristic liveliness of disposition. James was a friend to 
everv one, having the rather uncommon ability of speaking 
his mind in plain words without giving the least offense. 
He became interested in the subject of religion during a 
series of revival meeting held in Madisonville, and after- 
wards became a member of the Methodist Church in 
Columbia. He was a teacher in the Sunday School and 
a few months before his death he was made class-leader, 
an honor not commonly given to one of his years. A 
erreat manv friends came to visit him in his last sickness 
and he had a good word for all. He was greatly missed 
in his place. Our sister Cynthia had married but a short 
time before James died and had gone to her new home in 
the East. The two losses from the home made us feel 
sad and desolate. Edwin, the next }oungest child of the 
family, died when a very young lad, of an exceedingly 

22 



])ainful illness which he bore with remarkable patience. 
He was a brij^ht amiable boy, with dark brown eyes and a 
round full face. He was of a social nature and used to 
visit the neighbors often especially our good friends the 
Bassetts. (The family of Rev. A. H. Bassett, brother 
of Mrs. ( )Iiver Hangdon.) When his case was known to 
be hopeless Father talked with him about dying. The 
child with perfect faith replied. 'T often pray to the 
Savior and if I die I shall go to Heaven." 

I'rother Catus lived longer than the two brothers of 
whom we have just w-ritten, but left us when his young 
manhood was barely spent. He too was of a social dis- 
position and had a large circle of friends. He enjoyed 
life in its truest meaning, all its innocent pleasures, all 
its beauties and moreover at all times he was faithful to 
his convictions of duty. Father said of Cyrus, "He does 
not confer with tiesh and blood alone." After a long busy 
day of farm work he used often to walk the several 
miles down to the church at Columbia to attend the 
prayer service. Fie united with this church at a class- 
meeting when he was only thirteen years old. As he 
grew to manhood he engaged actively in the work of 
the Church. He was especially successful in Sunday 
school work and was superintendent at different times 
of several schools. Flis talks in this mission work were 
always bright, short and apt. Cyrus was very con- 
scientious and at one period of his life he accustomed 
himself to say "I guess so" or "I think so" for fear of 
uttering an untruth were he to make the bold statement 
of a fact. Later after reading that sin is in the intention, 
he was led to a somewdiat different view but he was 
always scrupulously exact in speech. The Christian faith 

23 



of his boyhood sustained him to the end of hfe. During 
the day on which he left us he asked to have Father 
come to him. When Father approached the bedside 
Cyrus said, "I want to put my arms close around you," 
and Father leaned over him that he might have his last 

wish. 

It seems unnecessary in these reminiscences to speak 
in particular of the other brothers and sisters, all of whom 
have had descendants whose minds and affections we 
trust hold memorials of their lives and characters. 

24 



i§nv Jatltrr 

For assistance in the preparation of an historical 
sketch of our fairiily to be inchulecl in a work which w^as 
published in 1881, our Father, Janies Davenport Lang- 
don, wrote the following notes relative to his life-exper- 
ience. It is fitting to give in this personal narrative these 
words of his, written at the close of his long life. The 
handwriting of the original copy is in places somewhat 
difficult to read, the shaky, wavering lines having been 
traced apparently with great effort. 

"Dear Son : — At your request T note a few incidents 
of mv life. I was b(-)rn in A'ermont State. Orange County, 
\'ershire, June 13th, 1792. My parents moved into the 
county when it was new. Of course the advantages of 
education were poor. My parents with others formed the 
first Alethodist Episcopal Church in the place. 

Through earlv instruction mv mind was impressed 
with the importance of religion, also against profane 
swearing, drunkenness. Sabbath breaking and gambling, 
which instruction I have observed through life. In 180-I 
my Father died. In 1806 my Mother moved to this 
state. Ohio. My Mother soon united with the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, in Columbia, the first Methodist Epis- 
copal Church formed here. My Mother v.as a con- 
sistent and conscientious Christian, attending to all of 
the means of grace, family prayers, reading the Scrip- 

25 




JAMES DAVENPORT LANGHON. 



tnres. attendance at Church and also weekly class-meet- 
ing, taking her children with her to all the services of 
the church. These influences thrown around me, I was 
impressed of the importance of salvation and would often 
seek and pray, often singing the hymn "Show pity, Lord, 
O Lord, forgive." In those days there were frequently 
great outward manifestations. I, instead of looking for 
that inward work of grace in the heart, was waiting for 
those irresistible manifestations. About 1815, we had 
preaching at our house every two weeks by the circuit 
preachers of the Methodist Episcopal Church and prayer- 
meeting almost every week. I used frequently to lead in 
the singing. In 1817, at the Quarterly Conference of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church two members of our class, 
local preachers, were tried and expelled from the Church 

26 




MRS. JAMES D.WENPORT LANGDOX. 



without any real cause and left the class and appointment 
altogether. The local preachers now preached every 
Sabhath. Soon the Lord made bare His arm. ?\Iany were 
converted and made happy. I now made a covenant with 
God if He would have mercy (for I thought His mercy 
almost gone) I would seek Him all the days of my life 
and I would make it known ( for I never wanted any one 
to know this till I was converted). I was soon called upon 
to prav but 1 did not. [Then] I saw T had violated my 
pledge but [I resolved] if 1 had religion I would [obeyj 
the promise. Come, seek and find. From this time on I 
was determined to perform every known duty, but it 
was sometime before I had full evidence that I was a 
child of God. After I had the assurance I was very 
happy. I wanted others also made partakers of the same 

27 



grace. I soon began to talk to others and to hold prayer- 
meetings in different places. I was soon made class-leader 
(an office held till our Church formed part of the Congre- 
gational Society). Our class increased till we numbered 
between thirty and forty. We were incorporated under 
the name of the Methodist Societies. Great changes 
were taking place. Many of the families moved away, 
some died, the local preachers were gone. I still kept up 
our meetings, especially the prayer-meetins:. Still I 
visited different neighborhoods. I used to on Sundays 
go up to the mouth of the Little Miami where a local 
preacher used to preach who frequently wanted me to 
preach. When I was going one Sabbath I thought if 
called upon and urged, I would take it for granted I 
ought. Soon my mind was called to a text, i Samuel, 
1 2th Chapter, 24th verse. It was the first sermon I ever 
tried to preach. 

In 1828 or 1829 my I'ncle Oliver died. He used to 
preach almost every Sabbath and to attend many fun- 
erals. After his death as there was no minister anywhere 
near, I was frequently called upon. 1 suppose in the 
course of the next twenty years I attended more funerals 
in the surrounding neighborhood than all other ministers. 
In 1830 the Lord visited us with manifestations of grace 
and mercv. Our numbers increased to between thirty 
and forty. As we had no minister to administer the or- 
dinances, in 1832 we united with the Methodist Protest- 
ant Church of the Cincinnati Circuit. I was soon licensed 
to preach. On September 7th, 1836. I was ordained 
deacon, to perform baptisms and marriage ceremonies. 
On August 2 1st, 1842, I was ordained an elder. On 
November 6th, 1848, I was appointed superintendent of 

28 



the Cincinnati Circuit of the MethocHst Protestant Church. 
This appointment made me a member of the Annual Con- 
ference, of which I remained a member for eight years. 
I was a niember of the first Temperance Society formed 
in Cohnnbia Township. In 1833 I was made their presi- 
dent. In the same year I formed a Temperance Society 
in Cohnnbia which continued for a number of years until 
the Sons of Temperance took the ground." 

Our Father whom while living" we so dearly loved 
and whose memory is to us something sacred, seems in 
his personality, character and work, very dififerent from 
the men of his time, so philanthropic, so benevolent and in 
education and religion so broadminded and clear sighted 
in that age of narrow views and superstition. He prac- 
ticed in his daily life the teachings of Jesus and kept in 
mind the divine precept 'Tnasmuch as ye have done it 
unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done 
it unto me." Religion with Father was a reality. He 
was always doing a good turn for somebody. Xo vaga- 
bond or beggar however degraded ever left his door with- 
out some assistance. The drunkard, the fugitive, the 
homeless, the downtrodden and oppressed of earth, were 
given not only a temporary kindness but a help calculated 
to elevate and improve their pitiable condition. He hired 
idle men to work for him and gave a log cabin and a 
garden to the homeless wanderer. We remember dis- 
tinctly the log cabin where so many shiftless ones lived 
rent free, except possibly the return of the little work 
Father could get out of them. There was also another 
little house where a certain old man lived for years on 
Father's bountw 'I'his man had. too, a little corn])atcli 
in the bottoms. 

29 



Father would go to the home of a sick neighbor 
and cut wood in order to keep the family comfortable. 
One time he helped a poor family who wanted to move 
to Indiana, and took his own team to carry their house- 
hold goods. On returning he was overtaken by a severe 
snowstorm. It was in the depth of winter. He stopped 
for the night at the town of Elizabeth. The tavern was 
so crowded with travelers that he was told there was no 
place for his horses. He at length prevailed on the tavern 
keeper to let him put his horses on the barn floor and he 
found a place for himself by the tavern fire. The tem- 
perature fell below zero. It was difficult to keep from 
freezing while harnessing his horses and driving home. 
Self-sacrifice with our Father was not an unusual ex- 
perience. 

Education was to him an important factor in life. 
He was a moving spirit in getting a district school in our 
neighborhood and in obtaining teachers for it. He was 
one of the trustees for many years and used often to 
visit the school and address the children on the import- 
ance of education and kindred topics. 

In the ministry Father made a very remarkable 
record. Like many men of that time he followed the 
leading of the Spirit, performing duties that came to him 
imperatively, never hesitating v.hen duty called, often 
seemingly taking his life in his hands. When the cholera 
raged in the years of 1832 and 1849, ^ good many min- 
isters refused to attend funerals of those who died from 
the dread disease, but when Father was asked to go he 
never refused. He preached a number of funeral ser- 
mons in Columbia and the vicinity during the cholera 
times. He believed as John Wesley did, that man is 

30 



immortal until his work is done. It is impossible to tell as 
there was no record kept, how many sermons Father 
preached during- his ministry. His preaching was differ- 
ent in many ways from the preaching- of the itinerant 
minister who was continually chaUsging his field and his 
congregation. It was remarked by persons of intelligence 
that his sermons were of so varied a character and of 
such peculiar earnestness that people did not tire of his 
preaching. His discourses were never of the sensational 
kind but v/ere instructive and full of practical lessons. 
The denomination to which he belonged, the Methodist 
Protestant Church, the Radical Methodist it was sonu»- 
times called, permitted the rites of baptism to l)e i)erform- 
ed in three different modes— immersion, pouring and 
sprinkling. All of these methods were familiar to us. 
Baptisms in Columbia were usually administered by im- 
mersion in the ( )hio River. Along the riverside the rite 
was ])erformed b\- the method of pouring — a method 
probably obsolete in these days. Sprinkling was the 
method used in the church or in the house of the parish- 
ioner. Eternity "that other life" alone can tell how many 
souls Father has helped into the Kingdom of Heaven. 
Persons laboring under religious convictions in great 
distress of mind — st)me almost in despair — have sent for 
him to pray and talk wdth them, showing in their requests 
their confidence in his ability to help them. His own re- 
ligious experience was of such a kind that he could sym- 
pathize with and help those of a similar nature. When 
persons came to him in a doubtful state of mind for ad- 
vice or counsel, he endeavored to enlighten and aid them, 
but not against their own convictions of duty. Regard, 
he thought must be taken of early teachings, associations 

31 



and training. These, in religion as in politics and other 
matters, have much to do in forming opinions. 

Manv in those days believed in and experienced in- 
stantaneous conversion. This was often a stumbling block 
to others of a different temperament. Father used to 
describe the manner of his conversion, and the Christian 
walk after, in words of this fashion : It is like a pathway 
that grows brighter and brighter as one passes on, or like 
a light which one carries, illuminating the way as it is 
needed, step by step, duty by duty, as one progresses. 

Through the misty recollections of childhood are 
memories of Father's prayers morning and evening, in 
the family circle — the evening prayers were especially 
impressive. In the prayer, our present needs and sur- 
roundings were mentioned. If there was a storm, he 
asked that we might be protected, while the thunder 
rolled and the lightning flashed ; at other times that we 
might be preserved from invading foe, sickness, or sud- 
den death, and that we might live so that we would dread 
the grave as little as our bed. Sometimes a verse was 
quoted like this — 

" May angels while we sleep. 
Around our bed their vigils keep ; 
And in our stead the whole night long 
Sing to our God a grateful song." 

Another favorite sentiment was this — 

" The clouds we so much dread, 
Are big with mercy. 
And will break with blessings on our heads." 

Father's prayers were always impressive on account 
of the note of absolute sincerity evident at all times. They 

32 



gave indication of his nearness to God and his supreme 
belief in the efficacy of prater to the God who is the 
overruhng- Providence in the affairs of men. 

Our Mother was a typical New England woman, 
managing well her household affairs and looking after 
the comfort of a large family. She was a woman of 
strong character, unswerving in the line of duty, yet 
practicing the law of kindness in every act of life. She 
was dignified in manner, but so kind and gentle that the 
humblest received due regard. Benevolence was a prom- 
inent trait of her character. No one ever sought her 
door to be sent away without such relief as she was able 
to render. As we look back to review Mother's life, she 
seems the most unselfish person that ever lived, the most 
self-sacrificing. She was always doing something for 
somebody, self seem to have been forgotten in the many 
demands on her from others. Hospitality was another 
trait. Our Mother kept "open house" all the time. In 
early days there being no meeting-house in the vicinity, 
a small society of Christians frequently held meetings 
in her house. It was also many times a preaching place. 
A small hall bedroom was always at the disposal of min- 
isters, and for that reason called by them "The Prophets' 
Room." 

She was a good disciplinarian, managing well her 
large household, but devotion itself to the comfort of 
her family, especially in times of sickness. We children 
thought it almost a luxury to be sick so that we could 
occupy the little "trundle-bed" in our Mother's room and 
have her especial attention and enjoy the nice dishes 
prepared by her own hand. The convalescing child 
was made happy with the unusual privilege of looking 

33 



through the "Box of Keepsakes" given to her when she 
left Maine, and a story connected with them added to the 
pleasure of the entertainment. The wife, the mother, is 
truly the home maker. As we look back the home of our 
childhood seems indeed a beautiful picture. The house 
itself, a frame building, painted white, with green shut- 
ters, set among shade trees and shrubbery and flowers, 
the garden, the orchard, the hills, the meadows, the creek, 
the old bridge, all enshrined in our hearts like a precious 
gem. Beautiful as w'ere the environments of our home, 
still more beautiful was the life within. The atmosphere 
of this home where love reigned, contained no discord, 
but an attachment, an afifection between parents and chil- 
dren, that lasted throughout life. And as the mother ha^-. 
much to do in molding the children's character, so to our 
Mother much praise is due. "Her children rise up and 
call her blessed." To say that our Mother was a good 
woman, a good w'ife, a good mother, a good neighbor, 
a faithful friend — "a friend in need" to the poor, the 
sick and the suffering, is saying much, but in her these 
qualities were enhanced by the sweet spirit that pervaded 
her whole life. 

34 



I^nmr mxh (EiiatomB 

Our home was given the name of Ehnwood on 
account of the trees around it. In the early days our 
post-office address was Columbia, the office being located 
several miles below us in the village of Columbia. Two 
letters, still in existence, written by our grandmother, 
bear the superscription, "Columbia," and the dates 1815 
and 1819. Tn later days the village of Linwood grew 
up around our home, also named from the groves of 
Linden trees, and our family had a share in the manage- 
ment of the village affairs. Now the village has been 
annexed to the great city of Cincinnati, and the name 
Linwood is being dropped from letter addresses. Eastern 
avenue (formerly the Wooster Pike) runs directly 
through the yard which lay in front of the old home. 

In the olden days the situation of our homestead 
was remarkably beautiful. Close by the house lay the 
fields and the woodland, and just below the yard ran the 
little creek. In summer seasons the grain ripened in the 
fields, the woodland was full of odorous wild-flowers, 
and the small stream gurgling by, invited the children 
to the delights of w-ading, fishing and swimming. Our 
garden bore old-fashioned flowers and herbs never seen 
here nowadays — wormwood, tansy, sage, elecampane and 
manv another vanished plant. Down a small hill, at a 
short distance from the house was the old well, with its 
sweep and iron-bound bucket. All the water used in 

35 



the house we had to fetch in a pail up this hill. It is 
almost unnecessary to add the comment that conveniences 
in those days were not of the labor-saving kind. Our 
yard extended to the Duck Creek, and contained many 
fruit trees and rose bushes. A small gate opened to the 
path that led down to the foot-bridge, one end of which 
rested on the bank of the creek and the other on a notch 
cut in a sycamore tree on the opposite shore. The bridge, 
a thick plank two feet wide perhaps, we little children 
used to creep across, much afraid of falling off into the 
water below. At night when people crossed the foot- 
bridge going to and from meeting or on other errands, 
they carried lanterns to guide their steps, and timorously 
held one another's hands. 

The young person of this twentieth century v/ho has 
no experience of the modes of living in the early part 
of the last century can not fully appreciate the inventions 
and conveniences of the present. By the touch of a 
button, one may now have a light many times the power 
of the candle formerly used for illumination. The pro- 
cess of candle-making Vvas well-known in each old-time 
family. It included the melting of the tallov/, a product 
of waste materials saved by the housewife, and th.e dip- 
ping of the wick into this melted candle-fat, or else the 
shaping of the candle in queer old molds. The manufac- 
ture of candles involved the expenditure of much time 
and labor. If at night-fall a family had the misfortune 
to be destitute of a candle, some one must go to beg or 
borrow one from a neighbor, or else all must sit through 
the evening hours with the firelight alone to brighten 
the gloom of the house. 

Many articles were manufactured in the home in 

86 




THE 01,1) HOME. 



those far-off days. Besides candles, soap also was made 
from the waste fat of the kitchen ; sugar and molasses 
were obtained from the sweet sap of the maple tree ; and 
clothino- was manufactured from wool and flax. Broom«, 
farming implements and cooking utensils were con- 
structed by the ingenious head of the family. Buttei 
bowls and ladles, mush-sticks, and similar articles were 
fashioned out of wood, oftentimes heavy and unwieldy. 
Even cradles for the babes of the family were made in 
the home workshop. The spinning and weaving for the 
household consumed much of the time of the busy mother, 
whose strength must have been heavily taxed to provide 
the clothing for a large family. 

The cooking was done by open fire and in the Dutch- 
oven outside the kitchen door. The crane hanging in 
the fireplace, with its trammels and hooks, was in use a 
large part of the day. Those whose food is prepared in 
scientific ways nowadays by aid of gas and electricity 
can scarce imagine the difficulties of cookery in the days 
when the cook's back was nearly broken in stooping over 
to baste the meat roasting in front of the blazing fire, 
and in lifting the heavy i:)Ots and kettles from the crane'- 
support. On the all-important baking day, which occurred 
once a week, usually on Saturdays, the large Dutch-oven 
was filled to its utmost capacity with products of the 
housewife's skill. Early in the morning the fire was 
kindled inside the brick-lined oven ; then, at the hour 
of baking, the ashes were sv>-ept out, and the pies and 
bread were placed inside. The oven retained its heat 
all through the day. Baked beans (a relic of New 
England days) and puddings, requiring a slow baking, 
were cooked later in the day. 

38 



The test of the oven's temperature was made bv 
thru?tin.e^ the hand inside its doors and trying- to count 
certain numbers without discomfort. Experiments are 
not always crowned with success, particularly when the 
mind of the experimenter is not absorbed entirely in his 
test. C )ne Saturday evening-, the two sisters of our family 
were employed in the task of "working over" some butter. 
Tlie butter was cold and hard to n-ianipulate, so the young 
butter-makers decided to set the bowl containing the 
obstinate substance in the warm civen just for a few mo- 
ments. Sister Cynthia was very much interested in read- 
ing abnid a serial story in Godey's Ladies' jiook. and 
absorbed in this, she read on and on, and the butter was 
forgotten. When at length the sisters peered anxiously 
in at the oven door they beheld with consternation only 
some yellow oil swimming round the bowl in an uncon- 
gealed state truly, but far beyond the point desired. 

Charles Dudlev Warner has written in his backlog 
Studies, "How can a person be attached to a house that 
has no center of attraction, no soul in it in the visible 
form of a glowing fire and a warm chininev, like the 
heart in the body ? When you think of the old home- 
stead vour thoughts go straight to the wide chininey 
and its burning logs." The ancient fireplaces and the 
blazing wood fires have a distinct share in the niemories 
of our old home. It was heather's tluty and pleasure to 
build the early morning's fire for the comfort of the 
family. One remembers its warmth and cheer on frosty 
winter mornings when we children hovered rt)untl. be- 
fore our little feet started toward the school house, and 
one recalls how at nightfall after the day's tasks were 
all done, when the snow-storms blew without, we gath- 

39 



ered roiinfl the hearth to enjoy the evening's pleasures in 
the radiance of the big fire blazing and glowing in the 
wide chimney. Not the present generation, but wc of 
the earlier days who studied our lessons by the light of 
the dip-candle and warmed our bodies in wintry weather 
by the heat of the glowing wood-fire, marvel most at the 
lighting of houses by gas and electricity and the heating 
of houses by means of hot-water apparatus and gas-fed 
furnaces. 

To resume our narrative. — We shall allude to some 
other modes which have become antiquated. With the 
passing of the stage coach has disappeared likewise the 
pedlar, carrying his huge pack on his back, also the 
itinerant clock tinker, and the shoemaker who went 
from house to house to suppl}' all the families in the 
neighborhood with shoes. In the former times the pedlar 
was an important visitor, especially in isolated localities. 
His mission was two-fold — he carried news as well as 
merchandise. The opening of his pack produced feelings 
of wonder and excitement in the children, and even in 
the older members of the familw Almost everything im- 
aginable was contained in the pedlar's stock — dress pat- 
terns, notions, jewelry, musical instruments, such as jews- 
harps, French harps and horns, etc. 

In the exciting days when the slave question was 
being hotly discussed, the law forbade harboring or help- 
ing runaway slaves. One dark night after the family had 
gone to bed, Father was awakened by a knock at our 
front door. Upon opening the door he saw standing on 
the steps a man and woman, both negroes. The man, 
whom Father recognized as a free man, who lived in 
the city, explained that the woman with him was a slave 

40 



who had lived on a plantation in Kentucky and had been 
sold to a slave-dealer who was going to take her to a 
plantation in Louisiana. In those days such a fate as this 
was dreaded by the negro living on the borderland be- 
tween the North and South, not only on account of the 
severity of the work on the sugar plantation, but also 
on account of his utter loss of a chance of gaining 
freedom. Father was not a member of the Underground 
Railroad, then existing, which was conducted mainh' 
bv the Quakers, but he believed in justice, and said: "In 
the North we know no slavery." The man wished Father 
to conceal the slave-woman till the next night, when he 
purposed to come to take her to a friendly station. Father 
granted the recjuest and showed the woman to a bed in 
the garret. No one of the family knew that this strange 
guest was in the house next day except Father, Mother 
and the servant. The man failed to come according to 
his promise. After a day or two, the two sisters of the 
household began to notice Julia, the maid, carrying food 
upstairs and to ask questions about her errands. Mother 
told them then about the slave-woman and instructed them 
not to tell anyone about her, even though some stranger 
should come inquiring about a runaway slave. Adver- 
tisements descriptive of these poor runaways made vivil 
by cuts of the slaves, carrying bundles on their backs, 
were commonly seen in newspapers in those ante-bellum 
days. Brother Cyrus also had his curiosity excited. He 
fancied there was something mysterious up in the garret 
and one day he decided to make an investigation on his 
own account. Suddenly the family heard Cyrus scream- 
mg with fright, and saw him come timi])ling down the 
stairwav. The slave-woman said that she was lying on 

41 



the bed, with her back to the door and hearing a noise, 
she had turned over just as Cyrus, looking in, saw her 
face looming towards him in the dimness of the attic 
darkness. The terrified child did not recover from the 
horror of his discovery for a long time. He was afraid 
to go into the room where the colored woman was kept. 
At night he slept with Julia, imploring her in wakeful 
intervals, to put her hand over his face because "she was 
coming." We were expecting soon to have "quarterly 
meeting" in the new hay-barn. People from all the 
country round would be flocking to this conference. 
Fatlier decided that it was safe to keep the slave no 
longer. A message was therefore sent to a man who had 
come to the city from the White Oak Settlement, known 
to be friendly to fugitives. On his return from the city 
this representative of the Settlement stopped at our door 
to take the black woman away in his covered marker 
wagon. We heard that she at last reached Canada and 
had become a free woman. She was a Christian. While 
she stayed with us, we children loved to hear her sing 
her pathetic songs and old plantation melodies. 

The first Temperance Society in our community was 
called "The Washingtonians." A. meeting was held in 
the old stone school house in Columbia to establish its 
organization. Father took an active part in the work 
from its inception, and engaged speakers to come out 
from the city to help carry forward the campaign. The 
pledge advocated was not so strict as to prohibit the 
drinking of beer or cider. A large number signed the 
pledge at this first meeting of the Society. Father had 
in charge the papers containing the signatures. The 
sisters, Cynthia and Harriet, wished their names enrolled, 

42 



being fully persuaded that they had seen sufficiently the 
evils of intemperance. So their names were added to the 
list to their oreat satisfaction. A few davs later their 
courage was tested. They went to call upon ]\Irs. May- 
nard, a dear old lady of whom the little girls wert fond. 
During their visit the hostess offered them some "sling," 
a drink concocted of wdiiskey mixed with sugar and 
water. The virtuous disciples of temperance refused 
the proft'ered refreshment, saying that they had signed 
the pledge and that they could not permit themselves to 
acce]:)t this hospitality. Mrs. Maynard insisted that the 
drink was not harmful, but the little guests were tenacious 
of principle. On their return they were very eager to 
tell the home folks of their victory over tempation ! The 
two little sisters had an especial fondness for visiting the 
old ladies of the neighborhood. They used to go to see 
old Mrs. Peters, who lived on the hill, and old ]\Irs. 
Jenks, who lived down the road. Mrs. Jenks did them 
the honor often to get "tea" for their entertainment. 
Very strong it was with just a few drops of cream in it. 
But the warm biscuits and honey were delicious — these 
were customarily served with tea in those days. 

Columbia Township in former times comprehended 
the villages of Columbia and Madison, the voting place 
being in the latter corporation. On electi(Mi days the 
men went by in wagons going to Madison to exercise 
their rights as American citizens. Often returning at 
night after the day's excitement, they were fre(|uentl\ 
verv noisy and boisterous. Father was for many years 
one of the judges of elections. "Training-day," as well 
as election day was notable in (nir world. Mr. liezekiah 
Stites, who lived next to us, was captain of a militia com- 

43 



pany that went to Madisonville for drill at stated times. 
When Mr. Stites dressed in military costume, with a 
red and white cockade brilliantly waving aloft, rode out 
on his horse to give orders for the maneuvers of his men, 
we thought his appearance very fine indeed. A tiny 
red feather dropped from this gorgeous cockade adorned 
for many days a doll's bonnet belonging to one of the 
little sisters. 

Our Father and Mother, both of Puritan descent, 
governed their family with that characteristic Puritan 
strictness as old fashioned now as are many other cus- 
toms of their generation. Sunday to them was a sacred 
day. All work was suspended from Saturday night till 
Monday morning. The duties of the Sabbath were given 
pious attention. Father's sternness was no indication 
of an unfeeling heart. His kindness and charity were 
well known. His familiar naiue in the neighborhood 
was "Uncle Jimmie," and later "Father Langdon." 
Every old vagabond who was in need of a shelter found 
his way to our door, and Father never failed to give him 
a welcome. The old homestead is gone, the old customs 
have been outlived, but the example of honest toil and 
fidelity to duty remains a heritage to succeeding gen- 
erations. 

44 



The first school in our neighborhood was held in a 
little frame house on the bank of Duck Creek near the 
homestead of Uncle Oliver Langdon, probably in the 
years 1 829-1 831. The little school building of one room 
only, afterwards enlarged for a dwelling, was used as 
a "meeting-house" also. Jvidge Burke and other speakers 
from the city, and our own Uncle Oliver, preached in 
this small schoolroom. It was very likely only a summer 
school for small children that was conducted in this place. 
Our cousin, Alary Langdon, afterwards Mrs. Rayne, was 
the teacher of this school, which resembled somewhat the 
modern kindergarten. \^ery little children, only four or 
five years old, were in attendance. A few years later 
than the date above mentioned, a school-house was built 
at Red Bank, on the land of Joseph Ferris. This was 
the first district public school of the community. 
The building was of frame, very plain, and un- 
painted, about twenty feet square, ceiled inside with pine 
boards. It was heated in winter by a large iron box- 
shaped stove, placed in the center of the room. Wood, 
of course, was used for fuel. The school boys each in 
his turn made fires on winter mornings. It was also a 
part of their duty to split and chop the wood, which was 
supplied the school by their fathers. INIamial training, 
stronglv recommended by the advocates of the modern 
industrial school, was given attention in our primitive 

45 



school curriculum. In those early days there were no 
sulphur matches, and should our fires go out during 
school session, a boy was dispatched to the nearest neigh- 
bor to get a shovelful of live coals to rekindle the fire. 

Many of the seats were benches made by splitting 
a tree-trunk in two parts, dressing the flat sides with 
broad-axes, and putting sonie legs in augur-holes at ends 
of the logs. The writing desks for the larger pupils 
were constructed of wide boards fastened to the walls of 
the house. There was seldom a public school fund 
sufficient to keep the school running longer than the 
winter season. Consequently a new teacher was usually 
employed for each successive term. Each new master 
began his instruction at the beginning of all our text- 
books. It happened, therefore, that nearly every pupil 
would "go through" his arithmetic, grammar and geogra- 
phy about one-half or two-thirds every term. There 
were no authorized or prescribed text-books. Each pupil 
brought to school whatever book his family happened to 
possess. Little Harriet's text-books included the fol- 
lowing list : — "Life of General Marion," "The Life of 
Captain Boone," "The Columbian Orator," "The Intro- 
duction to the English Reader." then the "English 
Reader," and later "The National Reader." "Webster's 
Spelling Book" was always the main foundation of all 
school work, the corner-stone in the Temple of Learning. 
This ancient book was a volume highly adorned with 
pictures, illustrating Aesop's Fables. The fable and the 
accompanying illustration not only explained each other 
to the delight of the reader, but the moral at the con- 
clusion furnished him edification as well. The frontis- 
piece in the Spelling Book was a picture of a mountain, 

46 



py/ /T ^ ^.^y^ 




O' 












t- . ^ 



::k' I 



t:^=j 



called, metaphorically, the Hill of Science. Once a 
teacher showing this to a small boy in the A-B-C stage 
of learning, asked him if he thought that he could climb 
to the top of this rugged eminence. The little fellow after 
a moment's contemplation, replied, "I think I could if 
I had my shoes off." The books then in common use m 
the school were Grimshaw's History of the United 
States, Murray's Grammar, Olney's Geography and Atlas, 
and Talbott and Pike's Arithmetic, which contained tables 
of English pounds and pence, very difficult to us young 
Americans. Sometimes older pupils became so sufficiently 
advanced as to attempt Natural Philosophy and Geome- 
try under particularly competent masters. Our writing 
books were often homemade affairs, of foolscap paper 
ruled by the aid of lead plummets. The master set the 
copy in these books for our little fingers to imitate. Quill 
pens, which were made for us by the teacher, were used 
for writing. 

During winter terms the school was nearly always 
controlled by men teachers. The summer schools fre- 
quently held for girls and small children were often taught 
by women teachers. We have had pleasure in recalling 
the names and characteristics of many of the teachers 
of the Red Bank School. The first teacher brought to 
mind was a Mr. Lee, of whose term of office there is one 
vivid, distinct recollection. One day in warm weather 
near the time for dismissal in the late afternoon, a dog 
came leaping in through the open door. The little girl 
on the rear seat in terror, drew her feet up on her bench 
trying to gain some position of safety. Mr. Lee drove 
the poor mad beast out of the room with a broom. Some 
men in pursuit of the dog shot it right near the school 



48 



house door. The children gathered round the big shaggy 
animal after he was dead, eying him with great curiosity. 
All through the years Mr. Lee is remembered as a mild 
kind gentleman, well liked by his pupils. His successor, 
a Mr. Selby, was in striking contrast — so irritable that 
the little girl in mortal terror of his ill-temper kept her 
spelling book open in front of her constantly as though 
she were always studying. Probably next in order of 
succession w^as Mr. Grey, who came from Bangor, Maine. 
He was an acquaintance of the Wilsons, in Cincinnati, 
friends of our family. It was probably through an in- 
troduction by Oliver Wilson, who was for many years a 
teacher in the public schools in the city, that Mr. Grey 
came to our house, and became better acquainted with 
our family than many of the other teachers. After quit- 
ting our school Mr. Grey taught in the Cincinnati schools 
for a few years and later went to Mobile, Alabama. 
While in Cincinnati he gave little Harriet a book which 
bears the date of December 25th, 1837. 

Mr. Percy Hosbrook, whose son and grandsons have 
been prominent in the city as surveyors and civil engi- 
neers, and Mr. Eri Jewett, whose descendants are so well 
known, were among the first teachers of our school. 
There was one teacher, a Mr. Mason, who was eccentric 
in dress. He wore a great quantity of jewelry and kept 
his hair long. Children are by instinct imitative. During 
Mr. Mason's term the boys began to adorn themselves 
in the style of the teacher as far as it was possible. This 
was displeasing to the master's dignity, and was the 
means of curing his bad taste. Mr. Mason came from 
the East and in later years studied and practiced law in 
Cincinnati. 

49 




ELAM CHESTER LANGDON. 

A Mr. Curtis lives in memory because of his marked 
appreciation of his pupil's progress. At the end of the 
term each boy and girl received a small story book for 
a prize. Elam, then a small lad of eight, became the 
joyful owner of the classic tale "Old Mother Hubbard." 
Mr. Curtis was an amiable man, highly esteemed by all 
his friends. He came west from North Penfield. near 
Rochester, New York, on account of his health. After 
the close of school he returned to his home, and we re- 
ceived letters from him for a time. 

60 




HAKKIKT LANGDON WILLIATilS. 

Our teachers, followini;' the g'eneral custom of tlie 
times, "boarded round" with the famiHes of the pupils. 
Many of them were frequent p^uests in our home. One 
teacher whose name it would be unkind to record after 
so many years, went away very suddenly from our house. 
The sinuiltaneous disappearance of Father's best horse 
forced us to draw conclusions unfavorable to the meiuory 
of this schoolmaster. There was another teacher who 
combined several kinds of business profitably, but by 
altOQfether honorable methods. Mr. Whitcoml). durinjr 



51 



the summer vacation, while reheved of the task of "teach- 
ing the yonng idea how to shoot," maintained a nursery 
on Uncle Oliver's farm, where he cultivated choice fruit 
trees. One w'inter of Mr. Whitcomb's reign was espec- 
ially memorable because of a great snowfall, followed by 
sleet. Mr. Whitcomb, our master, joined with the boys in 
their sports, coasting and skating on the thick crusts of 
snow and ice which covered the fields and roads in every 
direction. Several teachers who stayed in our home wc 
knew intimately, and remember their peculiarities dis- 
tinctly. There was a Mr. Channing, an old bachelor, 
whom we children thought very "fussy" at the table. 
He always displayed great anxiety in selecting the 
choicest bits of food to please his palate and to gratify 
his appetite. It is strange how such personal character- 
istics will remain a part of one's memory wdien important 
facts are often completely lost. a 

Another teacher, Ezra Snow, a relative di ours, met 
with an unfortunate accident in our home. One day 
wdien starting on his way to the apple barrel in the 
cellar, he slipped and fell down the cellar stairs. His 
hand was badly lamed, but school duties were neverthe- 
less given strict attention by our cousin. Alexander 
Scott, another master of the school, was a carpenter by 
trade, and subsequently was employed in the construction 
of bridges on the Little Miami Railroad. Joseph Zenas 
Reeder, a fine penman and an excellent sign painter, 
taught the boys the printing of letters, a form of writing 
commonly neglected. Once a month Mr. Reeder gave 
each pupil a card bearing the pupil's name in beautifully 
shaded letters. Another teacher was Mr. Green, a proud 
high-spirited man, the son of a Virginia planter. There 

52 



was a custom in those days called "barrint:^ out." If 
school kept during- the Christmas season, the boy-pupils 
contrived to gain possession of the school house and 
would lock the teacher out until he was ready to treat 
them to cider and apples or else g'ive them the monev to 
provide the feast. The boys at Red Bank tried this bit 
of sport on Mr. Green. He grew very angry and refused 
this demand on his generosity. Our home was his stop- 
ping place at the time. So he discussed the matter with 
Father. How it ended is forgotten, but it is very probable 
that the boys won the victory. 

Some of the women teachers who had charge of the 
school in summer terms left pleasant memories. In the 
summer of 1834, ]\Iiss Sarah Morrison taught the child- 
ren. The date and her own age were worked in little 
Harriet's sampler, a work of this period. Miss Morrison 
was an excellent teacher, well educated, so refined and 
gentle that the little girls loved her dearly. Miss Emily 
Clason and Miss Bowers were favorite teachers whose 
names it is a pleasure to recall. Cousin Caroline Lang- 
don, Uncle Oliver's daughter, taught our school for 
several terms, both winter and summer. We thought her 
a srood teacher and have remembered her kindness in 
giving her pupils "rev.-ards of merit." A little volume 
of the New Testament still in existence was given to 
Master Elam Langdon as a prize for excellence in 
spelling. 

There were many funny happenings to relieve the 
dullness and monotony of our school life. One time 
during Mr. Hosbrook's term a mischievous cousin of ours 
at home for a vacation from the Cincinnati schools, came 
to our school merely for the purpose of having some 

53 



amusement. He "stood up" with the little children as we 
gathered in line to spell words of two syllables and pre- 
tended inability to recite correctly. His conduct was 
such that the school was thrown into great disorder. Mr. 
Hosbrook after a slight skirmish with him put him out of 
the room and locked the door. Oliver then stationed 
himself at a broken window. Every time the word 
came round to his place in the spelling class he made an 
attempt at spelling it. Not satisfied Vs'ith this bit of 
mockery he climbed upon the building to put a board 
over the stove pipe which emerged at the side of the 
house. The incorrigible boy was trying to "smoke us 
out." During ^Ir. Hosbrook's term there were in at- 
tendance at school a large class of older pupils — young 
men and women. The bo}-s spent the time in "ciphering." 
Sometimes they transferred sums from their slates to 
small l^lankbooks. It may be that they considered this 
record a method of book-keeping. The girls delighted 
in reading lessons under the master's careful tuition. On 
one occasion during an engrossing lesson hour, a mis- 
chievous boy pinned a young woman's sleeve to the 
teacher's coat. When the girl attempted to leave her 
position by the master's desk there w^as a great stretching 
and pulling apart that made much merriment in the room. 
Whatever the amount of application to study, at the 
conclusion of the school term, each pupil old and young 
was rewarded with the gift of a primer. 

The methods of punishment were unique. No 
teacher thought himself equipped for service without a 
ferule on his desk. Webster's definition of the word 
describes exactly the purpose of the instrument of tor- 
ture — "a flat piece of wood for striking children." Some- 

54 




AN OLD-TIME SAMPLER. 



times a culprit was seated on a high stool — the "dunce- 
stool" or was made to stand "toeing a mark" and leaning 
over to touch the floor with his fingers — a most uncom- 
fortable position. Sometimes severe wdiippings scared 
children to rectitude and obedience. One teacher threat- 
ened to put a little boy into the red-hot stove. Another 
pretended that he was going to cut ofl:" a little girl's ear. 
He whetted his knife on his boot, sent a boy to the wood- 
pile for a chip on which to place the severed member, 
and ordered another child to fetch a cup to catch the 
blood. All these preparations created much excitement 
in the school room. Some of the children were weeping, 
particularly the brothers and sisters of the victims. At 
last the little girl on prom.ise of obedience was allowed to 
take her seat without yielding the horrible sacrifice and 
order was restored. 

The school at Red liank was in an ideal spot. In 
the spring and summer time the woods all about were 
full of wild flowers. We children knew the names of 
all the trees, of the flowers, and of the birds, so 
numerous then. The long drooping branches of the 
forest trees the boys wove into swings and beneath the 
trees the little girls made play-houses. The roots run- 
ning out in various directions partitioned their houses 
into rooms which w^ere carpeted with beautiful mosses. 
Love of nature was nurtured in us by intimacy with 
these surroundings. There was an old water-mill on 
Duck Creek near our school-house. This was kept by a 
Mr. Moss. At noon-time we often went to the mill to 
get weighed and to fill our pockets with grains of wheat, 
which we chewed into a paste called by us "shoe-maker's 
wax." In winter time the boys skated on the Creek and 

66 



the Mill-pond, and in very cold weather on the Little 
Miama River. 

The Indians gave the name Red Bank to the locality 
on account of the color of the sand along the river banks. 
When we first went to the Red Bank school it seemed a 
very long walk up through the fields. There was a tra- 
dition that a colored woman — "a black woman" they 
said — was drowned in the Miami and was buried on its 
banks. We children used to look with awe at the sup- 
oosed grave. Afterwards when we were told that it had 
caved away into the river we ceased to be haunted by 
speculations concerning the "lilack woman." 



(Ulturrlira 

Our family belonged to the ^Methodist order of faith 
and doctrine. The first church built by this denomination 
in our vicinity was at Madisonville. Other churches 
which we have a remembrance of attending in early times 
were the Methodist Protestant Church, called the 
Bethesda Clnu-ch, near Mt. Washington, and the Sixth 
Street Methodist Protestant Church, and Olrl Wesley 
Chapel in Cincinnati. In these churches of the olden 
times the pulpit was placed nearly half-way to the ceiling 
and was reached by a stairway. There Vv-as a railing 
round the platform and pulpit, entrance to the enclosure 
beina: through a small door or gate. The isolated and 
exalted position of the preacher caused the parishioners 
to look up to him in a very literal sense. No musical 
instruments were allowed to be used in a church ; these 
supposedly belonged to the "Old Scratch." When an 
orp-an and choir were introduced in the old Sixth Street 
Chiuxh, some of the older members strongly rebelled; 
one brother said that he didn't want but one tune sung 
at a time, and another brother whose duty it hatl been 
to start the tunes, felt that his occupation was gone. 
It was the custom to select a singer who had a strong 
voice to lead the congregation in the singing of hymns. 
The minister read the stanzas, two lines at a time — this 
was called "lining out the hymn" — and the people sang 
with spirit, if not with the understanding. Notwithstand- 

58 



in^ the crudeness and simplicity of tlie service there was 
(Us])L'n'ed a spirit of sincerity, g-ood heartedness and ])i()us 
devotion not alwavs to be fonnd in modern, well-eqnii)])ed 
churches. 

There were but few churches excepting in large cities. 
In the country, meetings were held in private houses and 
in barns, and in summer outdoor meetings were con- 
ducted in orchards and in woods. Often meetings were 
lield in our own home and across the creek at Uncle 
Oliver's. People came from Madisonville and all the 
neighborhood round to attend these services. ( )ur 
kitchen was often filled with a band of earnest worshipers. 
We children were sent to ^Tother's room to stay during 
the meeting. 

A visit to a Camp-meeting in old Father Stagg's 
woods near the Piethesda Church is remembered. The 
whole family went in the big covered wagon. Before 
our departure Father nailed down all the windows and 
made everything secure. Mother prepared a chest full 
of provisions. She probably overtaxed her strength in 
the effort as she became ill on the way to the meeting. 
The route lav through the river bottoms where the corn 
was growing high, across the Miami by fording, and up 
the steep hills beyond. When we drove up to the camp- 
grounds we saw the white tents gleaming among the 
trees. At once we made our way to our tent which we 
shared with Mr. William Hart"s family. The tents were 
of cloth, and straw was thrown upon the ground for 
beds. Our experience of camp life was short for we 
stayed but one night. All through that night the rain 
poured without ceasing. We children slept soundl}- on 
our straw beds l)Ut very likel>- Mother was not so well 

5'J 



pleased as we with this sort of Hving. Next evening we 
stopped with a friend who hved a short distance from 
the camp grounds. We reached home the following day. 
Everything had taken on a desolate appearance during 
our absence. The fruit ungathered was lying beneath 
the apple and pear trees. 

In the early days, "camp meeting" had a peculiar 
mission in the country. Many doubtless were attracted 
to these meetings who would not enter a church. In 
some instances persons went to make sport, and touched 
bv spiritual influences their lives were transformed. IMany 
ministers trace their religious experiences back to con- 
version at camp meetings. An ecceT\tric Methodist 
preacher who used to preach at Duck Creek camp meeting 
related his conversion after this manner. He in company 
with some wild companions went to a camp meeting just 
for amusement. It happened that he wore a pair of new 
boots. He said "a ten pounder took him under the fifth 
rib and down he came, red top-boots and all." On one 
occasion the brethren were reproving hun for his ex- 
aggeration of speech and he replied, "I know it, I have 
wept barrels of tears over it." His preaching attracted 
large audiences mainly on account of his oddity of 
manner and speech. The famous Lorenzo Dow preached 
at a meeting held at one time in Uncle Oliver's orchard. 
He was an eccentric Methodist who had traveled much 
in America and England. Many interesting anecdotes 
have been told of him and his wife Peggy. At Uncle 
Oliver's he sat while he preached in a chair on a little 
platform. Beginning his discourse by saying, 'T see three 
little graves," he pointed with a cane which he held in his 

60 



hand as though he were numbering the graves in front 
of him — a singular preface ! 

Sermons in those days were very (hfiferent from 
the modern discourses. Then the minister Icept very 
close to his text, even repeating its w'ords many times 
in the course of his exhortations. A tardv church eoer 
might learn the text even though he had missed the 
preamble of the sermon. Methodists have changed very 
much the manner of worship in vogue six and seven 
decades ago. Then even the members of a church could 
not gain entrance to Love-feasts without tickets. There 
is a story told of one church member who was in posses- 
sion of his ticket, but making a change of clothing before 
he started to church left his ticket in his coat at home. 
The door keeper refused to admit him because the ticket 
was not in evidence. A member of another church was 
admitted by ticket which could be used only three times. 
Father, who was a member of the Methodist Protestant 
Church, once accompanied Grandmother Phelps (who 
was visiting us at the time) to a quarterly meeting of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church held in the Tague barn. 
Grandmother belonged to this latter denomination and 
was able to get a ticket for the Love-feast. As Father 
had already been in attendance the prescribed number of 
times he was refused the privilege of entrance. The 
door-keeper told him that if he chose to go in he would 
do it on his own responsibility. Father replied that he 
felt that he was always on his own responsibility, and 
accordingly walked in. 

It meant much in our early days to become a church 
member. Great moral courage was needed. The line 
of demarkation between the Church and the world was 

61 



clearly defined. A new convert often had a great deal 
to sacrifice — a manner of dress, use of ornaments, old 
association. There were many new duties to be assumed, 
new obligations and responsibilities. We recollect that 
there was much bigotry, prejudice, persecution, prosely- 
ting, extreme narrow-mindedness, but on the other hand 
we recall the strong piety and sturdy adherence to con- 
viction characteristic of these primitive Christians. Their 
endeavor was ever to be true to the light of their 

revelation. 

62 



(Samra mxh Anmanxxtnta 

The boys and girls of our g^cneration played the 
same g'ames whieli children of every ag"e and clime have 
used from times imiuemorial. The boy will always have 
his ball, his top and his marbles; and the s^irl her ski])- 
ping-rope and her doll. The game is modified in detail 
to suit each generation, Imt essentially it remains the 
same. The boys of our day had some curious methods of 
playing ball. One game was called "Anthony over." 
The players were divided into two teams, taking posi- 
tions, one on each side of the school-house. A boy on 
one side calling out the word, "Anthony over," threw 
the ball over the school-house. Then should a player 
of the opposite party catch the ball, he ran in haste around 
the building to hit one of the enem\' with the ball. Tf the 
attempt was successful, the captured opponent was 
obliged to go over to the other side. The game continued 
till one side was entirely depleted of its fc^rces. Another 
game was named "Bull-pen." Again the pla_\ers were 
divided into two parties. One team was stationed inside 
of a number of bases, which were occupied by men of 
the opposite team. The men ()n bases passed the ball 
from one to another, and at a fortunate moment a phner 
threw, aiming to hit one of the men on the inside of the 
ring. Then all on the bases ran awax- fi-om their original 
position. The man hit 1))' the ball hurried to the boundary 
of the ring marked l)y the bases, and tried in his turn to 

63 



hit one of the scattering party. Should he succeed, the 
man struck was out of the game ; should he miss, he him- 
self was "out." The game resumed with the men in 
their former positions. 

In the springtime, kites and stilts were popular ; m 
the winter season, sports on the ice were enjoyed. Be- 
sides skating, there were certain games to be played on 
the ice. There was "shinney" and "old man on the ice," 
the latter played in like manner to the game called "I'lack- 
nian." Quoits was a game much liked by the boys. 
Some of the old games were played very roughly. There 
was one called "poison," which was dangerous sport for 
small, weak children. A stake was driven into the 
ground, and then a ring of children, big and little, formed 
around it. Spinning round and round the hateful stake, 
each player made every effort to keep from touching it, 
at the same time trying to push someone else towards it. 
All boisterously cried, poison ! poison ! at the top of their 
voices. The little girls preferred quieter games usually. 
They were especially devoted to those which were ac- 
compained by a jingling rhyme. A much beloved play 
for little folks had this songful bit of verse to charm 
the ear — 

" Open the gates as high as the sk}'. 
And let King George and his army pass by." 

In the early times of which we are writing, when 
there was so much to do — homes to build, farms to 
cultivate, nearly all of the comforts and necessities of 
life to manufacture inside the home — work was the order 
of the day, from early morning till late at night. Idle- 
ness was not countenanced, relaxation and rest were 

64 



found in a chano'e of employment. A spirit of utilitarian- 
ism pervaded everything. Reading was not a pastime. 
Books were few and costly and were read for profit and 
religious instruction. Work and pleasure were combined 
and went hand in hand. 

Among the early settlers on account of the similar 
circumstances of their lives, their common needs and 
privations, a kindliness and neighborliness characterized 
their dealings with each other. Not only between one 
family and another did this lovely spirit show itself, but 
also between one community and another. An unwritten 
reciprocity treaty, a universal law of helpfulness, was 
established, that developed in social gatherings such as 
the "log-rollings," "barn-raisings," and "corn-huskings." 
Women helped each other in special times of need, when 
the stress of work was uncommonly heavy. Neighbors 
lent each other a hand in such labor as the picking over 
of wool, its carding and spinning. 

The "bees" for quilting and apple-paring approached 
the nearest to a frolic or a party for the younger people. 
These were occasions for nuich hard labor ; however, 
much the}' assumed an air of festivity. The working of 
"samplers"' by the girls in the summer schools, and the 
making of patch-work quilts, were the only kinds of 
fancy-work done bv feminine hands in those distant days. 
A long chapter could be written about the patch-work 
quilt and its endless variety of patterns — there was the 
plain blockwork and the picture patterns. Quaint names 
were given to the various designs — "the fl\ing star," 
"Job's troubles," "Irish chain," etc. Pieces of different 
colors were cut to represent flowers, leaves and vines, 
and sewed on a large foundation-square. This style of 

65 



designing may be the original of the applique-work com- 
mon nowadays. These patch-work quilts were made 
from pieces of dresses belonging to the grandmothers, 
mothers, sisters, cousins and aunts of the family. The 
quilt contained suggestions of any bits of family history, 
and in itself preserved many sweet and even sacred mem- 
ories. The old-fashioned quilting frames took up a great 
deal of space in a room. They were made at first to 
extend the full size of the quilt, which was rolled up as 
the process of quilting progressed. It was, therefore, 
desirable to get the quilt out of the way as soon as pos- 
sible. "Many hands make light work," was an adage 
often quoted at the quilting-bees, to which all of the 
women of the neighborhood were invited. After the 
quilt was fastened in its frame, some skillful person 
marked with chalk lines the pattern to be wrought. The 
quilters sat on each side the long frame. There was 
often a good-natured rivalry engaged in to determine 
which side was to have the honor to roll the quilt first. 
If the design was not very elaborate, the quilt was fin- 
ished by night-fall, and then was taken from the frame 
in triumph by the energetic quilters. The supper pro- 
vided the quests who had been so proficient in their use 
of the needle, was the best the house afforded. No canned 
goods bought at a grocery store were served at these 
tables, but pure unadulterated food, often prepared by 
the hostess herself — delicious white bread or biscuit, 
chicken-pie, pickles, cheese, pies, cakes, honey, preserves, 
etc. It was the pride of many house-keepers to have a 
table loaded with good things to eat. All the various 
kinds of preserves and "butters'" which the cellar con- 
tained were displayed for the satisfaction of the appetite. 

66 



After the feast which crowned the day's work, the elderly 
ladies went to their homes, but the younger folks often 
remained for a social time in the evening. 

For the young people, the "apple-parings" provided 
more sport than the "quilting-bees." These occurred in 
late summer or early fall when the apples most used for 
drying began to ripen. The apples were gathered during 
the day, and after the early supper was cleared away, 
preparations were made for the expected company. The 
work of paring and cutting the apples was usually done 
outside on the porches. Several barrels of apples could 
be prepared. for drying in one evening. Great fun was 
enjoyed by the workers in trying fortunes with the 
apple-parings and the apple-seeds. At nine o'clock the 
work was put aside, and then came refreshments and the 
playing of games, such as "Blind-man's Bufif," "Turning 
the Platter." "Button, Button," etc. ; 'Cross-questions," 
"Consequences," "Conundrums," "Proverbs," "Charades,"' 
etc. Games played with forfeits attached were popular 
on account of the sport aroused by the payment of the 
odd and ludicrous penalties exacted. Among our relics 
of the past is a box of little cards on which are printed 
questions and answers. These little "conversation cards" 
were sometimes used at our parties. There was a kind 
of candy passed round called "sugar kisses." Enclosed 
in the wrapping of each "kiss" was a verse of poetry. 
The reading of these rhymes caused merriment. 

The "spelling match" was a favorite amusement. 
Sometimes at our Red Bank School we were allowed to 
have a spelling match on Friday afternoons. Sometimes 
the spelling school was held in the evening, and became 
a social affair. Others besides the pupils of our own 

67 



school took part in the "match." The school teacher 
clown at Columbia, with some of his best pupils, often 
came, as well as others in the neig-hborhood and on the 
hills, who did not regularly attend school. Each Captain 
tried to get on his side the best spellers in order to win 
the contest, a matter of supreme importance. There was 
often great excitement while the match was in progress. 
The boy or girl who spelled all the others down and 
stood up the longest, was as happy as a crowned king or 
queen. 

Our account of the singing schools will be some- 
what meager, because we were not the musically-gifted 
members of the family. Brother Cyrus and brother John 
were considered good singers. One evening in every 
week for several terms they attended a singing school in 
Columbia, taught by Mr.Wm. Highlands, of Milford,who 
was thought to be a good musician, and taught the 
present system of sight-reading. Singing schools were 
sometimes held at our school house at Red Bank on 
Sunday afternoons. These sessions were not conducted 
mainly for instruction, but simply for pastime. There 
was a music teacher in the neighborhood at one time who 
gave lessons according to a new system which he had 
adopted, representing the notes by numerals. As this 
method never came into popular use, doubtless it wa.s 
not very practical. 

Years ago there was a public gathering now passing 
into oblivion which deserves mention in these annals of 
the past — the celebration of the Fourth of July or In- 
dependence Day as the New England people called it. 
The "Celebration" was usually held out of doors in some 
beautiful grove. A platform was built for the speakers 

68 



and seats were afrang'ed for the people who came ivom 
far and near to attend this annual convocation. Mil- 
itary companies with flyino^ flacks and bands of musicians 
playing strains of our national hymns, helped to invoke 
the spirit of patriotism. The exercises of the day in- 
cluded the reading of the Declaration of Independence, 
an oration by a well known speaker, and the singing by 
the people of "The Star Spangled Banner" and similar 
songs of the older times. A dinner was served for tlie 
distinsTiished guests of the occasion. This was en- 
livened bv the drinking of toasts. We remember at- 
tending a Fourth of July celebration at Aladisonviilc 
when Father responded to one of the toasts. 

69 



ISiOnha nixh l^tjgl|iitagB 



The old mud-roads, the original throughfares, fol- 
lowed the natural contour of the land, wandering along 
the bases of the hills running between the boundary lines 
of neighboring fields ("cross-lots" when more expedi- 
tious,) and fording creeks and rivers. In the early 
thirties, the new turn-pike was built — the Cincinnati, 
Columbus and Wooster Pike. It was intended to con- 
nect the three towns, but never reached beyond Goshen, 
a small town about twenty-five miles from Cincinnati. 
This road, macadamized in the new improved fashion, 
assumed straighter lines than the old highways. The 
right of way through fields and orchards was cheerfull} 
given by land owners for the sake of better facilities for 
travel. 

The stasfe coach then carried the mail between Cm- 
cinnati and Columbus three times a week. Passengers 
traveled in this ancient vehicle, which had a seating 
capacity of nine, carrying some on top like an omnibus. 
The single fare from our house to the city was twenty- 
five cents. 

The covered bridge over Duck Creek was built in 
1832. It was not only a great convenience to the travel- 
ing public, but also an accommodation to the animals be- 
longing to the farms near by. On stormy nights the poor 
beasts claimed its shelter. It was not the custom in 
those days for the farmer to be over-solicitous for 
the comfort of his cattle. Everything — cows and pigs, 

70 




THE OLD BRIDGE OVER DUCK CREEK. 



ducks and geese, cattle and fowls — ran loose, but each 
carried the mark of its owner. The farmer had his 
mark duly registered with an officer of the township for 
the legal identification of his property. Father's mark 
in the right ear of his pigs was that of a swallow-fork. 
The bridge was burnt in 1901, on the evening before the 
Fourth of July, probably by some incendiary, who wished 
to hasten the progress of modern improvements. 

In "Niles Register" for April 2fl, 1825, there was an 
interesting paragraph relating to the building of railroads 
in our country : "The London Courier, in detailing the 
advantages of railroads, upon the locomotive steam- 
engine principle, contains a remark relative to Mr. Rush, 
our present minister in London : "Whatever parliament 
may do they can not stop the course of knowledge and 
improvement. The American government has possessed 
itself through its minister of the improved method of 
constructing and making railroads and there can be no 
doubt of their immediate adoption throughout that 
countrv.' " The course of improvement was not long in 
reaching our locality. The Little Miami Railroad was 
the pioneer railroad built in this part of the world. It 
was a gala day when its first train ran through the 
neighborhood. The first thirty miles, reaching from 
Cincinnati to Morrow, was opened to public traffic in 1843. 
The total rolling stock of the company, we are told, then 
consisted of one eight-wheeled locomotive, two passenger 
coaches and eight freight cars, all made in Cincinnati. 
It was a single track road and the rail originally used 
was of the sort known as the "strap-rail." This was a 
wooden rail on top of which was spiked the strap of iron. 
The straps were constantly loosening from their fasten- 
ings. Sometimes strange accidents resulted. Loose ends 

72 




THE TOLL-GATE OX WOOSTEK PIKE NEAR THE liKlUCE. 



of straps, called "snake-heads," becoming bent, reached 
up above the wheels of a passing car and penetrated 
through the floor of the car. Workmen were employed 
to traverse the road-bed every day to inspect the rails 
and to make repairs. At first the speed of the railroad 
trains was very slow, probably about twenty miles an 
hour. But this was thought to be fast riding in those 
days. A girl friend of ours, in a letter descriptive of the 
first railroad trip which she had just been enjoying, wrote 
she was much surprised to find that she could distinguish 
objects in the landscape as the train passed along. She 
had expected to be whirled along as such a dizzy rate of 
speed that sight would be extinguished or at least blurred. 
In /Vpril and May, 1851, a series of letters was written 
from Brooklyn to friends at home by one of us who are 
giving these reminiscences. These letters are descriptive 
of a journey between Cincinnati and New York. The 
young traveler, starting out on her trip to her sister's 
home in Brooklyn, left Cincinnati on a steamboat about 
noon on a certain Monday in April, 1851. The boat 
carried her up the (_)hio River to Pittsburg in a little 
more than two days' time, arriving at Pittsburg about 
ten o'clock Wednesday evening. There are two letters 
relating the incidents of the Ijoat trip, and describing the 
scenery and towns along the river. 

This sort of travel has not changed to any extent 
in a half century. Some interesting passages from the 
third and fourth letters of the series will be quoted, giv- 
ing details of the journey beyond Pittsburg: 

"At 8 o'clock Thursday morning, we got into an 
omnibus and rode from our hotel (the Monongahela 
Plouse, where we had ])assed the night) over to the canal, 
to commence our journey from Pittsburg to Johnstown, 

74 




SCENE IN FLOOD-TIMES. 



at the foot of the mountains, a distance of 103 miles. 
I enjoyed this part of my journey very much. The 
weather was dehghtful, and I sat on the top of the boat 
the greater part of the time ; so I had a fine view of the 
country. The canal is dug at the base of the mountains 
that border the rivers we followed ui). We crossed the 
Allegheny at Pittsburg in an aqueduct, and kept along 
its banks a long distance. Then we followed the Kin- 
kiminito, a branch of the Allegheny ; lastly the Cone- 
maugh, a branch of the Kinkiminito, to its very source in 
the Allegheny mountains. The scenery along the canal 
was truly beautiful and of the most varied description — 
on one side tall mountains that looked to us in our little 
boat as if they almost touched the sky, and on the other 
side the beautiful flowing river. We passed several small 
towns and a great many coal pits and salt wells — wild 
looking places some of them were. I didn't see how any 
person could be contented to live here, l)ut the hopes of 
gain will take people of a certain class almost anywhere. 
I think, John, a trip into this wild country would satisfy 
your roving disposition, without your going to Oregon. 
The interminable forests that cover these mountains 
would offer an abundance of game, no doubt. I saw 
nothing but birds and squirrels, but I presume there is 
plenty of other kinds of game further back in the moun- 
tains. Indeed. I wished that vou were alonsf with me, 
for you would have had time for a few shots while we 
were going through the locks. I would walk sometimes 
for the sake of variety from one lock to another, where 
they were near together. 

"There were some amusing scenes at night when 
preparations were made for sleeping — children crying, 
mothers worrying, one lady afraid to sleep on the upper 

76 



berth for fear it would break down (such an occurrence 
is not rare), another afraid to he below for fear her 
neighbor above would come down upon her like a load 
of bricks. Finally they were all stowed away. Mrs. 
Morrill took the lower berth, and I the shelf above, with 
a sheet about as wide as a piece of tape to cover one with. 
While I endeavored to tuck myself in on one side, I 
found mvself spilling out on the other. However, as my 
hammock was swung u]) by the side of the boat. I had 
a defense on that side, and managed to keep in, notwith- 
standing the jarring and the jolting of the boat as we 
passed through the locks. 

"We reached Johnstown, the terminus of the canal, 
at one o'clock Friday afternoon. We immediately got 
aboard of the cars, and began the ascent of the moun- 
tains. We ascended by the means of five inclined planes, 
and descended by the same numl)er. The cars are drawn 
up bv stationary engines at the top of each plane. The 
ropes that ])ull the cars up are made of iron, and pass 
over pullevs. It is (piite exciting when you are drawn 
up or let down. There are two tracks, and the cars go 
rushing by in different directions. 

"At the head of the first plane we went through a 
tunnel as dark as Egyptian darkness, and the smoke 
from the engine that came in at the open windows nearly 
suffocated us. The scenery of the mountains was l)eau- 
tiful and sublime in its wildness — lofty peaks of moun- 
tains that rise to the altitude of Inmdreds of feet, and 
ravines as deep. As we wound around the mountains, 
far below us were to be seen the tops of trees in the 
valley beneath. There were some frightful looking 
places. One plunge would have landed us hundreds of 
feet below on one side, while on the other side were 

77 



hig-h mountains, so perpendicular that a squirrel could 
scarcely climb the sides. It was here that I saw the 
noble pines and cedars as large as our largest oaks. 
There were other beautiful trees, a tree with white blos- 
soms, called the currant tree. I saw the mountain daisy 
in bloom. 

"We took tea at Summit Town, the highest peak of 
the Alleghenies, 1,200 feet from the base of the moun- 
tains. The mountain air was delightful, so pure and 
wholesome. How singular it looked to me at first as 
we began to descend the mountains on the eastern side 
to see the rivers rolling in an opposite direction (to our 
Ohio River) towards the great Atlantic Ocean. 

"We reached Hollidaysburg, at the foot of the 
mountains, about eight o'clock in the evening. Here we 
changed cars, and took the night train for Harrisburg. 
I got but one or two little naps. They travel pretty fast 
on this road, and have an arrangement like this, for the 
night : Watchers are stationed along the road. If the 
road is smooth ahead, a white light is held up; if doubt- 
ful, a blue one, and if there is danger, a red light. This 
night a red light was seen. Some cars on the other 
track had run off and had tumbled on ours. But it all 
happened when I was taking a nap, and I knew nothing 
about the occurrence until it was all over. When day- 
light came, we were passing the Blue Ridge Mountains, 
on the banks of the Susquehanna, a broad and rapid 
stream, shallow and full of rocks, the water running- 
over the rocks, boiling and tumbling in a perfect rage. 

"We crossed the Susquehanna on a bridge just be- 
fore we reached Harrisburg. Harrisburg is considerable 
of a place, and has some elegant buildings. We left 
Harrisburg about eight o'clock Saturday morning, and 

78 



took the cars for Philadelphia. We parted at Harris- 
burg with the greater part of the conipaii}' that had 
traveled with us from Cincinnati. They were pleasant 
people, and we parted with some regret. We traveled 
a short distance on the banks of the Susquehanna, and 
then bid it a final adieu. The railroad is a very fine one, 
and the cars are elegant. The train runs at the rate of 
thirty miles an hour. This road from Harrisburg to 
Philadelphia passes through the most interesting section 
of the country that I have seen — continuous farms highly 
cultivated, interspersed with pretty villages. They were 
mostly dairy farms, large meadows or pastures, full of 
nice cattle. The settlers are generally Quakers, and they 
are 'neat as wax-work,' and keep everything in the most 
perfect order. The houses were of brick or stone, large 
and handsome, usually painted white, as were the out- 
buildings and fences — a pretty contrast to the green 
meadows, the yards, trees and shrubbery. This was a 
pretty good representation of the idea I have always had 
of the English landscapes, where every bit of land is 
under the highest cultivation. 

"We crossed the Schuylkill at Philadelphia on a 
viaduct just above the suspension bridge. We had a 
grand view of the bridge as we crossed the river — it is 
a graceful structure. We had fine views also of Fair- 
mount Water Works, Girard College and old Inde- 
pendence Hall. Philadelphia is a beautiful city. I think 
I admired it more than any I have seen. 

'Tt was about one o'clock when we reached Phila- 
delphia. We dined there and then crossed the Delaware 
River in a ferry boat to Camden City, N. j. Here we 
took the railroad to Amboy. a distance of sixty-five miles. 
This is a splendid road. We fairly flew over it at the 



79 



rate of thirty-five miles an hour. I was never carried 
through the world so fast before. 

"We reached Amboy about six o'clock, and im- 
mediately got on board the steamboat for New York 
City. It had begun to rain before we got into Amboy, 
but now it poured in torrents, and the wind blew a per- 
fect gale. So our sail up to New York was a boisterous 
one. I stood on deck awdiile with the Doctor to have a 
look at the scene, but it was too dark to see far. We 
rode in darkness for awhile, with the dim lights of 
Staten Island off in the distance, but finally the light- 
house loomed up and sent its friendly rays far over the 
waters to us. On account of the severity of the storm, 
we did not reach New York until ten o'clock. The 
Doctor got a carriage, and we packed into it. were ferried 
over the East River, and in a few minutes were at 
Cynthia's door, where she and Elam were awaiting to 
welcome us. vSo here we are at Brooklyn, at last, almost 
midnight on Saturday night. \\> have escaped all perils 
and the journey is o'er." 

Railroads have multiplietl in number and doubled 
several times their speed of travel ; electric railroads now 
occupy the roadways once used by the stage coach ; 
friends talk across the width of the city over telephone 
wires, to say nothing of hundreds of miles ; and where 
in our childhood there was a community of only a dozen 
or sixteen households within the radius of a mile from 
our home, now there is a population twenty to thirty 
times as great. //■ 

" The old order changeth, 
Yielding place to new, ■« 

And God fulfills himself in many ways. 
Lest one good custom should corrupt the world." 

80 



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